Arravale Wins E.P. Taylor for Canadian Team

(from Woodbine report)Woodbine-based Arravale burst through along the rail to capture her second grade I event of 2006, taking Sunday's $1 million (Canadian) E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine.

In a stirring stretch drive, Arravale, under Jose Valdivia Jr., found a seam on the inside as the field straightened for home and sprinted away to win the 1 ¼-mile event by one length on Pattison Canadian International day.

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Arch, trained by Mac Benson and owned by Robert Costigan, won the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) Aug. 19.

"She was so relaxed, and I had so much horse," Valdivia said. "I know how long the stretch is here. I was never worried. Nine out of 10 times the hole is going to open up, and that's exactly what it did."

For Arravale, the victory is the fifth of her eight-start career. The 3-year-old filly came into the 51st E.P. Taylor on the heels of a second-place finish to Ready's Gal in the Canadian Stakes (Can-II)Sept. 17.

Fourth early but just 3 ½ lengths off tepid fractions of :26.10, :51.52 and 1:17.81, Valdivia and Arravale stormed to the front impressively and held sway in a time of 2:10.34 over a course rated 'soft.'